SHAW RIVER POWER STATION PROJECT ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS STATEMENT & AMENDMENT C36 TO THE MOYNE PLANNING SCHEME INQUIRY PANEL REPORT JULY 2010 SHAW RIVER POWER STATION PROJECT ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS STATEMENT & AMENDMENT C36 TO THE MOYNE PLANNING SCHEME INQUIRY PANEL REPORT Cathie McRobert, Chair Ian Coles Jacqui McLeod Greg Sharpley JULY 2010 Contents OVERALL CONCLUSIONS & CONSOLIDATED RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................. 4 Overall Conclusions........................................................................................................... 4 Consolidated Recommendations................................................................................... 10 Amendment C36 .............................................................................................................. 14 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................. 18 1.1 The Project................................................................................................................ 18 1.2 Overarching Policy Context................................................................................... 21 1.3 Overview of Statutory Approvals Required ....................................................... 22 1.4 EES Evaluation Objectives ..................................................................................... 24 1.5 Identification of Issues............................................................................................ 24 2. POWER GENERATION: EFFICIENCY, AFFORDABILITY AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS .................................................................... 25 2.1 Rationale for Additional Gas-fired Power Generation ...................................... 25 2.2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions.................................................................................... 26 2.2.1 Regulatory Framework and Policy Context .................................................. 26 2.2.2 EES Assessment - Greenhouse Emission Estimates ..................................... 27 2.2.3 Submissions and Proponent Response .......................................................... 30 2.2.4 Discussion and Conclusions.......................................................................... 32 2.3 The Power Station Site Selection and Design Efficiency.................................... 32 2.3.1 EES Assessment - Power Station Site Selection and Design Efficiency ...... 32 2.3.2 Discussion and Conclusions.......................................................................... 34 2.4 The Gas Pipeline Design and Route Options ...................................................... 34 2.4.1 Regulatory Framework and Policy Context .................................................. 34 2.4.2 The EES Assessment - Gas Pipeline............................................................. 35 2.4.3 Submissions and Proponent Response .......................................................... 35 2.4.4 Discussion and Conclusions.......................................................................... 37 2.5 Compressor Station Design and Site Selection ................................................... 38 2.5.1 EES Assessment - Compressor Station Site Selection and Design............... 38 2.5.2 Submissions and Proponent Response .......................................................... 38 2.5.3 Discussion and Conclusions.......................................................................... 38 2.6 Water Supply Infrastructure.................................................................................. 39 2.6.1 EES Assessment and Evidence– Water Supply Infrastructure Design ......... 39 2.6.2 Submissions................................................................................................... 40 2.6.3 Discussion and Conclusions.......................................................................... 40 3. PROTECTION OF CATCHMENT VALUES.................................................... 41 3.1 Surface Water, Hydrology and Water Quality.................................................... 41 3.1.1 Regulatory Framework and Policy Context .................................................. 41 3.1.2 EES Assessment and Evidence - Potential Impacts on Surface Waters........ 42 3.1.3 Submissions and Proponent Responses......................................................... 45 3.1.4 Discussion and Conclusions.......................................................................... 48 3.2 Groundwater............................................................................................................ 49 3.2.1 Regulatory Framework and Policy Context .................................................. 49 3.2.2 EES Assessment and Evidence – Groundwater ............................................ 49 3.2.3 Submissions................................................................................................... 50 3.2.4 Discussion and Conclusions.......................................................................... 50 SHAW RIVER POWER STATION PROJECT EES & MOYNE PLANNING SCHEME AMENDMENT C36 INQUIRY PANEL REPORT: JULY 2010 4. BIODIVERSITY...................................................................................................... 52 4.1 Regulatory Framework and Policy Context ........................................................ 52 4.1.1 Commonwealth Legislation - Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999................................................................................. 52 4.1.2 State Legislation and Policy.......................................................................... 53 4.2 Terrestrial Ecology .................................................................................................. 55 4.2.1 EES Assessment and Evidence - Terrestrial Ecology ................................... 55 4.2.2 Submissions and Proponent Response .......................................................... 58 4.2.3 Discussion and Conclusions.......................................................................... 62 4.3 Aquatic Ecology....................................................................................................... 65 4.3.1 EES Assessment and Evidence - Aquatic Ecology....................................... 65 4.3.2 Submissions and Proponent Response .......................................................... 67 4.3.3 Discussion and Conclusions.......................................................................... 67 5. PROTECTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ................................................... 69 5.1 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage ................................................................................ 69 5.1.1 Regulatory Framework.................................................................................. 69 5.1.2 EES Assessment - Aboriginal Cultural Heritage .......................................... 69 5.1.3 Discussion and Conclusions.......................................................................... 70 5.2 Non-Aboriginal Cultural Heritage ....................................................................... 71 5.2.1 Regulatory Framework.................................................................................. 71 5.2.2 EES Assessment - Non-Aboriginal Cultural Heritage .................................. 71 5.2.3 Submissions and Response............................................................................ 72 5.2.4 Discussion and Conclusions.......................................................................... 72 6. HEALTH, SAFETY AND AMENITY IMPACTS ............................................. 73 6.1 Noise ......................................................................................................................... 73 6.1.1 Regulatory Framework and Policy Context .................................................. 73 6.1.2 EES Assessment and Evidence – Noise Criteria........................................... 74 6.1.3 Submissions and Proponent Response - Noise Criteria ................................ 76 6.1.4 Discussion and Conclusions – Noise Criteria ............................................... 78 6.1.5 EES Assessment and Evidence - Power Station, Compressor Station and Recycled Water Treatment Plant Operation Noise................................ 79 6.1.6 Submissions and Proponent’s Response – Power and Compressor Station Operation Noise ............................................................................... 81 6.1.7 Discussion and Conclusions - Power and Compressor Station Operation Noise ........................................................................................... 81 6.1.8 EES Assessment and Evidence – Noise from Construction Activities ......... 82 6.1.9 Discussion and Conclusions – Noise from Construction Activities.............. 83 6.1.10 Noise Monitoring And Complaints Procedures ............................................ 83 6.2 Air Quality................................................................................................................ 86 6.2.1 Regulatory Framework and Policy Context .................................................. 86 6.2.2 EES Assessment and Evidence - Air Emissions ........................................... 87 6.2.3 Submissions - Air Emissions......................................................................... 90 6.2.4 Discussion and Conclusions - Air Emissions...............................................